Joe Lombardi 'Didn't Realize' Stafford Lost Feeling In Arm Sunday
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
A communication issue might have been the cause of Matthew Stafford's second interception on Sunday, according to offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
After Stafford took a hard hit to his right arm against the Chargers, he lost some feeling in the arm, but Lombardi was apparently unaware of that. If he had known the extent of Stafford's injury, he said it probably "should've affected that play call."
"His second interception, I think might've been affected by that just because he was a little bit numb and I wasn't as aware because it was pretty quick that we were back on the field," Lombardi said. "I didn't realize that his arm was hurting a little bit, but it quickly got better and it didn't affect us after that."
Stafford completed 19-of-30 passes for 246 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against San Diego, before the Lions blew their 21-3 lead and lost, 33-28. He finished the game with a sleeve on his right arm.
That sleeve has reappeared in practice this week, where Stafford has stayed a full participant. He has also said multiple times that he will be ready to play on Sunday against the Vikings, in Detroit's first divisional game of the year.
In other injury news, several players returned to practice on Thursday after being either out or limited on Wednesday. Darius Slay returned, after leaving Wednesday's practice early during individual drills. Golden Tate (quad) and Haloti Ngata (shoulder) both sat out Wednesday as well, but returned Thursday during the open portion.
DeAndre Levy (hip) and Brandon Pettigrew (hamstring) were the only two players not on the field during individual drills Thursday.
Linemen Larry Warford (offense) and Caraun Reid (defense) both continued to practice during the open portion on Thursday as well, after being limited with high ankle sprains for several weeks. Neither have played since early in the preseason.
